US: NHTSA investigating Chrysler delays on recalls

The US safety regulator has announced it opened a probe into Chrysler Group’s strategy to handle two recalls that affect around 1 million Dodge Ram pickup trucks in the country.

Documents posted online by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show the agency is now investigating why the third largest US carmaker has delays with the recall handling – from late availability of replacement parts to “poor communications” between Chrysler and the regulator.

The carmaker, now a part of the recently merged Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it continuously informed the NHTSA about the status of the two recalls affecting the Ram pickups that were issued last year.

“We have concerns with the administration and execution of these safety recalls and accordingly have opened an investigation to collect further information from Chrysler,” said a letter from the agency to the carmaker. Last year in November, Chrysler issued two recall notices that affected 1.2 million light- and heavy-duty Ram pickup trucks that had possible flaws at the chassis level that could lead to steering issues. The NHTSA has decided to open the “audit query” of the process after it was assaulted by more than 1,000 customer complaints that claimed Chrysler was late in ordering replacement parts at the dealers.